May 28, 2015 VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 41
LakewoodSentinel.com J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
A publication of
Gratified grads from Alameda
District denial draws criticism Governor signs educational bills at Heritage Center By Crystal Anderson and Clarke Reader
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com and creader@colorado communitymedia.com
A celebration for all, as families reached out to celebrate their Alameda students’ graduation on May 20. Gratitude for their family’s support was clearly on most students’ minds as all the student speakers recognized their families’ support. Photos by Clarke Reader
Alameda High School seniors walked across the stage to receive their diplomas at Boettcher Concert Hall on May 20.
Basking in the afterglow of their achievement, Alameda High School students celebrated their graduation with family and friends at Boettcher Concert Hall.
New farmers market sprouts in Lamar Station Plaza By Clarke Reader
creader@colorado communitymedia.com Lamar Station Plaza is in the process of developing its own farmers market — one that potentially could grow to a year-round affair — and it took its first step on May 20. Miller Farms participates in around 35 markets in the state, and it is the first member of the plaza’s new market. Miller Farms will sell its fresh produce and $10 bag program Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. “We grow everything from corn to carrots, and we do fresh asparagus, which not many farms do,” said Melissa Miller, whose parents started Miller Farms. “I love markets because we get to meet people who are already into eating veggies and living healthy, and we get to explain the benefits of supporting local farms and people.” The plaza market is looked after by Barbara Moore, the executive director of Harvest Mountain Farm Gardens, and aims to grow in the coming months with other local growers like Everitt Farms.
The Miller family participates in markets all over the state, and now adds the Lamar Station Plaza to its list of stops. The area’s market, run by Harvest Mountain Farm Gardens, just started its season on May 20 and is looking to expand in the coming months. Photo by Clarke Reader
Legislators and members of the education community gathered around an old schoolmarm’s desk in Lakewood as Gov. John Hickenlooper signed two key educational bills into law. The catch — the desk wasn’t located at any Jeffco school. “It’s another black eye for Jeffco, and a missed opportunity for our students to get a real life civics lesson,” Jeffco school board member Lesley Dahlkemper said at the signing. “Instead, they got a lesson in politics. I think the district is being disingenuous about this as well. Last year we had two bill signings at Standley Lake they were able to arrange with finals and graduation. I find it hard to believe they can’t accommodate this.” In mid-May, the Jeffco School District was approached about hosting the governor at Lakewood High School on the morning of May 20 to sign two assessment reducing bills, HB 15-1323 and SB 15-056, into law. However, Jeffco spokesperson Lisa Pinto said that, due to the logistics of the end of the year and graduation, the district could not accommodate the governor and his staff with such short notice. “It was not possible to accommodate the governor, and the media and community members who wanted to watch the bill being signed first thing in the morning during this busy time,” she said. Following up with Pinto, she said the district would have been happy to coordinate an afternoon signing at a different school, as they’ve done in the past with Kendrick Lakes Elementary School, but failed to provide a reason as to why they didn’t. The signing, held inside the Old School House building at the Lakewood Heritage Center, featured comments from several of the area’s legislators and dignitaries welcoming the crowd to the center and expressing their excitement for the bills. Along with those statements, several of them, such as Hickenlooper, state Sen. Andy Kerr and Lakewood Mayor Bob Murphy, shared their confusion and dissatisfaction with the school district’s actions around the event. “With who we have sponsoring these bills that show bipartisan efforts and the fact we’ve had bill signings at schools before, it’s very disappointing the students and faculty couldn’t help us celebrate today,” said Kerr, a Jeffco teacher. “This was still a wonderful setting to do this in, and hopefully provides a basis for us to move forward and get the work of the people done and leave politics behind.” For Murphy, the issue, which the district presented as an impossible security issue, was disconcerting. “I want to clarify something — back in 2012 it was announced that Paul Ryan was going to be the vice presidential candidate and his first visit was at Lakewood High School. The police department found out about it on Friday, and the police had full security set up by Monday,” he said. “So no matter what you’re hearing, the Lakewood police can handle it.” Moving forward, the district said it has reached out to the governor’s office and is hoping to host him in August or the early fall.